Mixing of politics and religion is in dangerous territory [View All]

[BR_Parkway]

Must read, there are too many great paragraphs to fit in here.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050510/OPINION01/50509010/1039

It also doesn’t help the image of Southern Baptists. Granted, it’s a fact that Southern Baptists love to fight, and intra-church splits are common. But this incident goes beyond that into cult territory, to an institution that wants to control all aspects of your life.

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He’s correct, and hit the nail on the head when noting the trend of pushing the limits of political speech from the pulpit. “Part of that,’’ Rev. Prince told the Citizen-Times, “comes from people like Jerry Falwell and James Dobson encouraging people to test the IRS lines.”

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Prominent leaders of the Christian faith with powerful media assets like Pat Robertson, Falwell and Dobson routinely align with causes on the hard right. This controversy comes about a week after “Justice Sunday: Filibustering People of Faith,’’ a move to whip up enough panic to win a filibuster showdown over judicial nominees on religious grounds. One ad for the movement says in part, “President Bush nominates a well qualified judge for the appellate court. Why do a few senators filibuster the nominee? It’s because that judge has our faith and our values.’’

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And, “I think we have a little bit of an easy audience this morning on convincing us of this program — could you delineate out a few other points from the other side, or the other faith, differences maybe in what you’re saying this morning, and maybe what they’re saying or not saying?” To which Cheney replied, “So I get a chance to speak for the Democrats now.’’ This is not accidental. It is shameful. It’s a divide-and-conquer tactic, and it’s not a small step from “Justice Sunday” to injustice right here in our back yard.